BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

Posted on: January 3, 2009 6:06 pm

Edited on: January 4, 2009 1:25 pm

While many of the players from Oklahoma and Florida were preparing for their matchup to decide who will be crowned BCS Champion, they couldn't help but take notice of what Utah did against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last night.

Utah, which is the only undefeated team in the nation, knocked off the SEC runner-up 31-17, a wider margin than what the Gators did in the SEC Championship (31-20).

So does Utah deserve a share of the national championship?

"When they play big teams every week, maybe we can talk," said Florida safety Ahmad Black. "Not to take anything away from them, but their strength of schedule isn't up to par."

Despite beating four Top 25 teams throughout the season, including Oregon State, which was the only team to beat USC, the Utes SOS is ranked No. 57 according to CBSSports.com, while the Gators' is ranked No. 3. Oklahoma's is No. 1.

"Utah played their butt off and very hard against a great Alabama team. They were the better team that night," said Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham. "I know they are undefeated and that's great, but we have to just roll with it."

How about one more game? Utah vs. the winner of Oklahoma vs. Florida.

"I don't mind a playoff," added Gresham. "I prefer it to this system. The problem is the teams that win now, they think they are the best. If we go to a playoff we can see. I think that would be right."

Stoops and Broncos

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops' name has come up as the NFL's Denver Broncos seach for a new coach, but that's news to Stoops.

"What situation? That's a rumor that I have not heard and no one has contacted me about that so I don't know anything about it," said Stoops. "We're preparing for a national championship and that's all my focus and all my concentration's on so obviously I'm not a candidate."

It's not the first time Stoops' name has come up for a NFL coaching job. The coach with a 109-23 overall record in ten seasons as Oklahoma, including 32-12 vs. ranked opponents, had his name come up for the Dallas Cowboys job in 2007 and the Kansas City Chiefs job in 2006.

Murray = Bush

Oklahoma will be without do-it-all sophomore DeMarco Murray, who is out after having surgery to repair a hamstring injury.

Murray finished the season with 1,002 yards rushing, while also averaging 27.6 yards on kick returns and scoring 18 total touchdowns. Chris Brown, who leads the team with 1,110 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns, gave Murray quite the compliment during Saturday's press conference.

"Whenever you look at us, DeMarco is like a Reggie Bush-type of runner, and I'll be the LenDale White," said Brown. "He can catch out the backfield like Bush and turn something small into a huge play. I'm more conservative and wait for things to develop."

Tickets, please

While Oklahoma has no players from South Florida (Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties), the Gators have plenty.

Florida has 17 players from the tri-county area, including safety Major White (Miramar/St. Thomas Aquinas), who was an honorable mention All-American.

"As soon as the game was over against Alabama, I got calls from people saying 'Can you get me this? Can you get me that?' I only get six tickets so I was only thinking about that."

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

You miss the point Fab. The statement that "USC would beat both" is exactly the mentality that makes this system a very poor one. It doesn't matter that your statement is a ridiculous one since Utah beat Oregon State the week after beating USC. Its the belief that teams should be ranked according to what people think instead of what happens on the field. Yes, maybe USC would - or should beat both, but does that mean they should be placed on a pedastal - because they are the best on paper. According to that logic Alabama should have beat Utah - so lets just hand Utah its first loss. While we're at it - lets not play the championship game and just hand it to...FLorida and their #1 ranking - which is theirs just cause they suffered their loss early to Miss (HA!). Until there is a fair playoff I will be a college football fan who will not watch these awful bowl games.

Since: Oct 18, 2008

Posted on: January 5, 2009 9:21 am

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

Yeah, Mississippi just beat the number 7 team in the nation this week so that Mississippi defeat isn't a bad loss...Hawaii was also a bowl team. The Gators strength of schedule is perfectly fine by playing the SEC.

Since: Jan 5, 2009

Posted on: January 5, 2009 7:09 am

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

Not to take anything from Florida, OU, USC, and Texas, but how can you say that Utah wouldn't beat you? Is this just your way of trying to make up for your ONE LOSS teams? Is this some imaginary game that you people play in your heads? Give Utah some credit, because they just put a hurting on Alabama, and I venture to say that they could do the same to your teams.
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CALLICO
Since: Mar 21, 2007

Posted on: January 5, 2009 5:44 am

This comment has been removed.

Post Deleted by Administrator

Since: Jan 15, 2007

Posted on: January 5, 2009 4:21 am

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

Utah is the champion. Period. There is no question. There is no split. Utah is the National Champion. Florida's guys can say what they want, they lost a home game. OKU can say what they want, they lost on a neutral field. Texas can say what they want, they lost to a gimmick team who got blasted twice.

USC has no valid argument. They lost to Oregon St. who lost multiple games including one to....that's right Utah.

Utah is the people's champion. I am not a Utah fan and have no outside motivation. Utah is the champion. The polls at the end of the season don't matter. The Champion is decided. If there were a playoff, someone might knock them off. There is no playoff, the champion is chosen.

All hail the Utes! The People's Champion.

Since: Dec 29, 2006

Posted on: January 5, 2009 2:35 am

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

A-men. Since they are the only undefeated team and proved themselves on the field, they deserve #1 as much as anyone in the country. The computers put Oklahoma and Florida into the so-called championship game. Who is to say the programmers are honest? That doesn't mean they cheat. It questions whether or not their formulae is sound. It obviously favors offense over defense. It obviously favors some conferences over others. Let's be honest. If a team as good as the New England Patriots played in the Mountain West, they could never be voted into the BCS bowl. The argument would always be they played in a weak conference. If they played in the SEC or Big12 they couldn't win. This shows just how much bs and restraint of trade is centered around the BCS. The auto bid conferences may be willing to allow a team like Utah to get a good bowl game, but never the championship game. Follow the money. I'm a USC guy. I think we are the best team. But given the crooked BCS setup, I have to say Utah is #1, because we don't get to play Utah or any of the one-loss teams whose only claim to their overrating is a vote. You say how can you say overrated? Was Alabama overrated? Was Oklahoma St. overrated? Was Texas Tech overrated? Then why shouldn't anyone feel that perhaps Florida, Oklahoma, etc. may be overrated? We all know that Ohio St. the last two years were highly overrated. I know the fans of those teams won't agree. That's because they don't want to look at the logic of any argument. Of course if by some strange coincidence USC had been voted into the championship game there would be fans from one of those teams that would be crying foul and all of the sudden the logic of the argument would strangely have been illuminated.

And I stand by my comment that the BCS is crooked.

Since: Feb 7, 2008

Posted on: January 5, 2009 1:15 am

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

In all honesty Utah is probably a top five team this year, Alabama top ten. So the score makes sense. I just love the part where the writer points out that Utah won by a greater margin of victory than Florida, come on the "greater margin" was just 3 points, I mean really whats the difference? If I had it my way I would of loved to see the following bowl match-ups.

BCS NC Game

1. Oklahoma vs 2. Florida (At least I'll get this one!)

BCS Game 1

3. Texas vs 4. USC

BCS Game 2

5. Utah vs 6. Penn St

BCS Game 3

7. Alabama vs 8 Cinncinati

BCS Game 4

9. Ohio St. vs 10. Virginia Tech.

That's just how I have em ranked, and those would have been some pretty exciting games!

Come CFB fans, besides all the homers isn't that about right!

Discuss

Since: Nov 6, 2008

Posted on: January 4, 2009 10:55 pm

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

How can you even say that it would be a lopsided loss if Utah plays USC, Florida, or OU? You are speculating just like all the Alabama fans before their big ass kickin' in the Sugar Bowl. Utah should be given a chance to play for the title. I agree they should not be given anything, just like any team out there should not be given anything. It should all be decided on the field. Give Utah that chance. If they lose, then they lose. If they win, then they win. Saying they are going to lose before they even have the chance to do so is rediculous on you. I believe Utah has the ability to play with any team. What else do they need to do to get the respect they deserve. Since there is no playoff system, I believe Utah should be number one if Florida wins. Seeing that Florida beat Alabama and so did Utah, it should go to Utah because of the margin of victory and Utah is undefeated. If Oklahoma wins then they should be number one. Oklahoma handled TCU, so using the same arguement as I did with Utah and Florida, the #1 spot goes to Oklahoma, even with their one loss. They were able to beat TCU easier than Utah. By saying Utah is undeserving of a #1 spot is very unintelligent and ignorant on your part. Give them their chance or grade them on what they have done. Don't use your hypothetical bull crap, because as we just saw in the Alabama, Utah Sugar Bowl, (where nobody gave Utah a chance), you may just eat your foot.

Since: Nov 26, 2006

Posted on: January 4, 2009 10:31 pm

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

Oh why not let them have their and one? Sure...Utah beat an Alabama team that was highly over-rated. It was a solid performance and a good win...but I don't think they'd perform the same against Florida or Oklahoma. Alabama was number one because the SEC West is incredibly weak, and their only quality East opponent was UGA...which played a terrible game that day, and yet almost came back to win it. Let's face it people...the SEC has had several great years, but this is not one of them. Alabama only jumped in the polls because Nick Saban drew enough media attention and lucky breaks to get through. This is *not* a criticism of Nick Saban or Alabama - what he did with that team this year is incredible....but I don't think they ever belonged at #1.

Put Utah up against Florida, Oklahoma, or USC and what do you get? A lopsided loss. The two teams that should be playing for the national title are playing for the national title, but Utah supporters do have a point that they're undefeated. Put 'em up against one of the three above and let them get that first loss. Not a problem.

For anyone who is going to claim I picked Alabama, I did not make a pick in the game. My analysis was that if Alabama could get a lead to sit on, they would win. If Utah got an early lead and Alabama had to catch up, then Utah would win. Nick Saban uses defense to win games, he does not belive in posting mucho points. His strategy doesn't work when he gets too far behind. That said, give him two more years and the Crimson Tide will be the real deal...

Since: Jan 9, 2007

Posted on: January 4, 2009 10:23 pm

BCS Championship Notebook: Utah No. 1?

So that would mean the SEC has been overrated all year, right? I mean that "overrated" Alabama team took all comers with the exception of Florida and that was a pretty close game.